🚙 Can I put film on my car windows?

With conditions

Quick answer

Conditional — yes behind the driver, no on the windscreen and front side windows. Under regulation no. 822/2004 on the construction and equipment of vehicles, the light transmission of the windscreen and front side windows must be at least 70% within the driver's normal field of vision. That means it is not permitted to tint or film the windscreen and the windows beside the driver and front passenger. Tinting and film are, however, allowed behind the driver — the rear side windows and rear window may be as dark as you like. The myth many buy into: that any film is fine as long as you can see out, or that a medical note allows a dark windscreen. Both are wrong — the 70% limit is fixed and no exemptions are granted, neither for medical nor any other reason. Some cars come with tinted glass from the manufacturer, but that is then approved and marked and meets the requirements. Illegal film at the front shows up at inspection and counts as a defect.

📋 The rules

The light transmission of the windscreen and front side windows must be at least 70% within the driver's field of vision (regulation no. 822/2004).
It is not permitted to tint or film the windscreen and the windows beside the driver and front passenger.
Tinting and film are allowed behind the driver — the rear side windows and rear window may be dark.
No exemptions are granted from the windscreen requirement, neither on medical nor other grounds.
Factory-tinted glass is allowed if it is approved and marked and meets the 70% requirement.

🔓 Exceptions

Cars manufactured with tinted glass at the front are permitted, as the glass is approved and bears an approval marking.
Windows behind the driver fall outside the 70% rule and may be tinted or filmed as you wish.
The top strip of the windscreen (a sun band) may be darker if it is above the driver's field of vision and does not impair it.

⚠️ Penalties & fines

Illegal tint or film at the front counts as a defect and shows up in the vehicle's general inspection. The result can be a minor repair — where you get time to remove the film — or, if faults are more serious, a demand for corrections before the car counts as being in lawful condition. The police can also object to overly dark windscreens during traffic checks and demand corrections, and in serious cases stop the car's use until the film is gone. The hidden cost is twofold: removing film from a windscreen and front side windows costs both time and money, often more than putting it on, and reduced visibility raises the risk of an accident and can affect compensation if a mishap occurs. Those who buy a used car with illegal film inherit the problem, because the owner and keeper are responsible for the car meeting the requirements. The safest course is to keep everything in front of the driver untinted and save tinting for the rear windows.

📎 Official sources

Last verified: 2026-07-12

❓ Frequently asked

Can I put dark film on the windscreen?

No, the windscreen and front side windows may not be tinted or filmed, because their light transmission must be at least 70%. You may, however, film windows behind the driver as dark as you like, so the rule concerns only the driver's field of vision at the front.

Can I get an exemption on medical grounds?

No, no exemptions are granted from the 70% requirement for the windscreen and front side windows, neither on medical nor any other grounds. A medical note does not change this, so anyone needing sun protection must rely on sunglasses, a sun visor or tinting on the rear windows.

What about factory-tinted glass?

Some cars are manufactured with tinted glass at the front, and that is permitted because the glass is approved and bears an approval marking that meets the requirements. The difference from after-market film is that the factory glass is tested and certified, while film added afterwards lowers the light transmission below the limit.

Does illegal film show up at inspection?

Yes, film that is too dark at the front counts as a defect and shows up in the vehicle's general inspection. You then get a remark and time to remove the film, and the police can also object during traffic checks and demand corrections.

Can I film the rear window and rear side windows?

Yes, windows behind the driver fall outside the 70% rule and may be tinted or filmed as you wish. This is common to reduce solar heat and prying eyes, but it changes nothing about the windscreen and windows beside the driver having to let through at least 70% of light.

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